Overview
A workaholic editor faces a career-defining choice that could change his life forever.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- frantic
- warm
- lazy sunday
- career change discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's fast, frenetic newsroom energy, ensemble cast, and Ron Howard's direction while finding its plot familiar and occasionally over-engineered.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Henry's professional and personal crises converge during an intense newspaper workday shaped by an urgent story.
The tabloid's financial troubles and the broader decline of newspapers shadow the film's energetic newsroom comedy.
Henry weighs Paul Bladden's better-paid, shorter-hours newspaper job against his attachment to tabloid journalism.
The film emphasizes frantic reporting, research, deadlines, and overlapping newsroom activity to create fast comic momentum.
Films like The Paper, and why
Broadcast News
fast-paced newsroom comedy with an ensemble cast and deadline-driven workplace chaos
His Girl Friday
witty, energetic newspaper drama balancing professional ambition with personal relationships
Morning Glory
ensemble workplace comedy centered on media professionals, ethical pressure, and frantic pacing
Movie Details
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Release Date
- 1994-03-18
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (246)
Cast
- Michael Keaton
- Robert Duvall
- Glenn Close
- Marisa Tomei
- Randy Quaid
- Jason Alexander
- Catherine O'Hara
- Jason Robards
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan
- Jill Hennessy
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Paper about?
- A frantic New York tabloid editor must choose between career respectability, family responsibility, and the irresistible rush of a breaking story.
- What is The Paper like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Paper as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Paper violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Paper as mild.
- What did critics think of The Paper?
- Critics broadly praised the film's fast, frenetic newsroom energy, ensemble cast, and Ron Howard's direction while finding its plot familiar and occasionally over-engineered.
- Which films are like The Paper?
- Films with a similar feel include Broadcast News, His Girl Friday, and Morning Glory.
- How long is The Paper?
- The Paper runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Paper?
- In United States, The Paper is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
